The Friday before Christmas is traditionally the busiest day for holiday departures from San Francisco International Airport, and the unusual winter weather looks to be heavily impacting flights. As of 11 a.m., there have been 66 flight cancellations and 139 delays at SFO so far.
On top of the “bomb cyclone” storm affecting tens of thousands of flights at East Coast airports, an ice storm has forced closure of two runways at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, canceling hundreds of flights there.
All Alaska & Horizon departures out of Seattle and Portland are canceled until noon PST due to icy runway conditions. Please check the status of your flight before leaving for the airport. There is a flexible travel policy in place to rebook your travel. https://t.co/Dntjiyvwgc https://t.co/oSBwhi0mPu
— Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) December 23, 2022
According to FlightAware, the 66 cancellations at SFO represents a 46% increase from last year. At Oakland International Airport, 57 flights have been canceled so far, a 20% change, and at San Jose Mineta International Airport, 53 flights have been canceled, a 56% change.
Beyond winter weather, it’s already been a difficult season for holiday travelers, with airline prices higher than average and luggage theft at SFO an ongoing problem.
The Standard has reached out to SFO for comment.
This is a developing story.